Following Australia’s decision to crack down on internet gambling, BetOnline were forced to close their doors to customers on April 16th 2018. In a statement released by the Chico Poker Network (who are responsible for managing BetOnline, SportsBetting.ag and TigerGaming), they explained:‘We now confirm that we will be withdrawing real money services from Australia. The Company has arrived at this decision due to changes in Australian gaming law and the introduction of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Act.’

Why Were BetOnline Forced to Leave?

Introduced in September 2017, the Interactive Gambling Amendment Act prohibited the provision of ‘interactive gambling services’ to customers in Australia. However, it wasn’t until seven months later that BetOnline had to say goodbye to most of its Oceanic clientele. So why the delay?

Well, the move may have been prompted by a report from Australia’s gambling watchdog, which announced in February the discovery of 19 breaches of the 2017 Act. Although the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) did not disclose the companies responsible for these breaches, it is possible that BetOnline was one of them. Looking to avoid any potential legal action from the Australian government, the site clearly decided it best to stop offering their services for Down Under.

Cryptocurrency support might be the second reason why BetOnline was slow to exit compared with PokerStars, PartyPoker and 888 Poker who all pulled support for Australian customers by the end of 2017.Since this type of payment method is largely anonymous through peer-to-peer transactions, Aussies can transfer to crypto-supported sites undetected by their national financial system. Being something of a grey area, the major issue arose from the fact that BetOnline is not a cryptocurrency-only gambling site – it accepts Visa, MasterCard and numerous other non-anonymous deposit options. Unfortunately for its Aussie customers, this meant that BetOnline had to cut ties with them to remain compliant with the country’s recent legal changes.

Good News for Poker Lovers

If you’re hailing from Australia and are a fan of online poker, this doesn’t signal the complete destruction of the virtual felt. Players are still able to play at poker sites which are crypto-only, and these include Nitrogen Sports, Ignition Casino and Americas Cardroom. With bitcoin being easier than ever to buy for Australians through exchanges like Coinbase and CoinJar, getting your dollars onto bitcoin poker sites isn’t a chore. The bonus: crypto withdrawals from these online cardrooms are fast and free.